As a country, it actually does. I may be biased being Swedish and all but Norway outperforms USA in many areas including education, politics, equality and quality of life in general to name a few. But America crushes it in other areas such as technology, scientific research (by far), economy, aid governance etc.
Granted, to try and compare a small and prosperous (thanks to that oil) country such as Norway to a super power like America is just plain stupid. There are far too many differences and nuances to each country to try and actually compare them effectively. But in my personal opinion, yeah, Norway > USA.
And let me try and explain why without sounding as if i'm anti-American, because i'm not, or trolling, because i don't. I was
reading the other day that a lot of green projects in several cities in America were cancelled by the city or state leaders because people were protesting them suggesting they were a UN plot to destroy many peoples property rights. The projects? Many of them were bike lane projects.
I was staggered by the absolute absurdity and sheer stupidity of such protests. Why would you protest against that of all things?! I decided to read up on it in different reports and the consensus among reporters seemed to be that it would somehow infringe on personal rights and their property rights. Keep in mind that these are
public bike lanes. The main backers of these protests? Tea party supporters.
For such a grass roots movement to take such control of the politics, and at times advancement of projects such as this, in America is beyond me. At times it even scares me knowing that much of the support and power behind the Tea Party activism is driven by the Koch brothers and similar republican power houses that are bent on taking political power to a new height.
That's another thing as well, the completely absurd political power landscape currently in position. Unlike many countries, you only have TWO parties to vote for and that's it. Democrats, and particularly this current administration, has proven to be very weak and futile against making progress on their promises and policies. What's more dissapointing is that the Obama administration was riding on such a high wave and had such power that they could've easily gotten many of their policies through. But they never did. In fact, they became so weakened that they allowed a few rouge, and in my mind corrupt, politicians to take a stranglehold on the economy during the debt ceiling crisis. They held the very world economy hostage. For such a thing to happen is just inexcusable. But what compounds on that is the fact that many of those politicians were told by their constituents not to agree to a single thing the Obama administration did as well as not to raise taxes. The very fact that the rich are becoming richer and more powerful is beyond obvious to anyone know and anyone that says otherwise is living in blissful ignorance.
Your rampant sensationalist media, such as Fox and i know Fox takes a lot of heat for it but it's not the only, is just crazy. Many of the news channels are more of a propaganda outlet, specifically in the Fox case, for those with pockets and connections.
However the biggest thing that i personally find crazy and just disgusting is the complete lack of proper health care for the public. As someone who has predominantly lived in both Sweden and England public and free healthcare is not only obvious to me but a human right. No person should wait months for a crippling illness or disease to be diagnosed or be paying extortionate amounts for medicine. Noone should be forced to leave their country and go to neighbouring countries such as Canada or online pharmaceuticals that are based out of America just to get some affordable medicine and healthcare products. They shouldn't. No insurance company should deny anyone coverage simply because of a "preexisting condition" such as cancer, HIV or any terminal disease. It's disgusting that anyone who is unemployed and breaks a leg or arm should pay such a hefty sum that they get in debt and have to take out a bank loan.
People, specially women, should not have to rely on charities for such things as free breast cancer diagnosis or abortions. Abstinence, regardless of your personal view on it, should not be pushed on kids and not teach them on safe sex, specially in school.
That's just a few of the many things i see as an issue with America. It's mostly to do with your politics and policies and not with the average people.
In fact, my hope and love of America rests in many things that its people. For example, one of the most fantastic things that i love is how you express your freedom of speech, both in cases such as the Westboro Church where they can protest for all they like but some amazing people protest back, often in glorious fashion.
I love the fact that gay rights is such a growing social change and that many people, both gay and straight, are pushing for it. I love the fact that Occupy movement had such great support from the average Joe that were sick and tired of the politicians, bankers and their money grubbing buddies. I love how friendly and social many people are regardless of your colour or religion. Despite my initial beliefs going to a predominantly (95% or so) white county in Alabama as a black man i was treated very hospitable and did not get any hostile looks or anything thrown at me when i spouted my atheist beliefs.
Many of the things that are bad about this country, things like Tea Party and such, are driven by an older generation that has the time, effort and money to push for their own agendas. But luckily, and i wish this could happen sooner as cruel as it might sound, they're going to die out very soon. And we'll have a culture and society that has grown up with things such as gay rights, a free and open internet and technology, are more knowledgeable and free to pursue knowledge and education at any age and location, and comfortable with change and how to achieve it. If the last election was any indication, just like Obama said, the young voters of this country and becoming smarter and more aware of who they want to vote for and becoming more determined to see the policies they want to see happen. For example, one of the youngest, if not the youngest, Senate member is an avid League of Legends player like me and has been very vocal against bills such as SOPA.
I have faith that it'll turn around. But anti-American crap like the OP has eschewed so far does not help anyone.